Marketing or Realtor?

[Gary Kurtz]

From what I can tell it seems that most folks in RE investing are ultimately after buy and hold.

I've listened to the podcasts with Anson Young who gets many of his deals off of the MLS, and Sam Craven and Aaron Mazrillo who are wholesalers and today I hear Kenny Estes' podcast that suggests that I shouldn't invest (as a newbie) until I've saved $50k... I would appreciate some direction: If the goal is to buy and hold what is the best way to get there? Is it necessary to market with (yellow) letters and postcards or is it better to find an agent and put them on the hunt? I'm interested in the most direct route. Maybe the answer is both? Any comments would be appreciated!